• Maeve
    link
    fedilink
    4014 days ago

    The biggest lotto win in the USA was $2.04 BN, in California. Subtract taxes and there is no way that comes close to the account of money other billionaires have ammassed, even assuming there was no outstanding debt to pay and the money was invested in high-yield investments (green or not). I believe you’re right.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      2014 days ago

      In theory a modern artist, writer, musician, etc could become a billionaire from direct to customer sales, but I’ll believe it when it happens.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        1414 days ago

        Isn’t Taylor Swift a billionaire? That is about the extent of my knowledge of her though.

      • Patapon Enjoyer
        link
        fedilink
        English
        714 days ago

        Even them are profitting off the work of hundreds of people. Or rather, a publisher is profitting off of their work along with the work of a lot more people.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          113 days ago

          Direct to customer meaning they sell direct to a customer. Presumably through digital copies and owning a server rack.

          You can certainly argue that even that kind of hypothetical billionaire shouldn’t exist, and you’d be right.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          15
          edit-2
          14 days ago

          Nah. Tons of merchandising, films, publishing etc.

          Those Quidditch brooms and plastic wands don’t assemble themselves in a sweatshop.

          Think more like if some self hosted webnovel had the same success somehow, or if she’d been as involved with checking the conditions of the merchandise empire as thoroughly as she was apparently involved in making sure the child actors were treated well. Not particularly likely, but hypothetically.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            5
            edit-2
            14 days ago

            Why do the merchandise sales not count? Are they not a product of her creative writing? Many webnovelists sell merch. One of my favourite webnovelists semi-recently hired an editor, would that disqualify them?

            I’m a little confused on how you are defining the conditions. If the artist can only count their personal contributions than I don’t think it is possible in any sense. No person no matter how hard working or talented can personally generate a billion in profit.